Goodbye … One Last Time

How many times do we utter these words in a day? How many times do we say them with the full expectation and understanding that we will have a chance to talk again and see each other again.

Today, I said goodbye to Justin, my wife’s brother, for the last time. It’s been a difficult few days for all of us in the family. My wife misses him dearly. My kids are struggling to understand why their uncle is gone. I miss him.

A Man With a Heart of Gold

Son. Brother. Father. Uncle. Friend.

These are just a few of the words that describe Justin. Yes, he was all of those things, but he was also a man with a heart of gold. He had a smile that would light up the room and when you were in conversation with him, he had a way to make you feel like your were the center of the world. At every turn, Justin went out of his way to make a difference in the lives of others. He cared deeply for the people around him.

I witnessed this first hand with my kids. They absolutely loved him and were always excited to spend time with him. They, along with the rest of us, will figure out some way to carry on without him but it will take time and some days will be better than others.

In all of the sadness, what gives me joy is knowing that I was blessed to be part of his life for the last 18 years.

Thank you for being such a great uncle to Sebastien, Cecilia and Stella. Thank you for being such a great brother for Heather. Thank you for being such a great brother-in-law.

Your time with us was way too short and know that you are deeply missed.